Commentary: It’s a fact that when associates are part of a decision-making process, they feel more invested and empowered. Case in point: AutoNation’s charitable-giving program, focused on supporting cancer organizations. It’s employee-chosen and driven and it works.
Sadly, too many of us have been impacted by cancer either on the job or in our families. Nearly three years ago, AutoNation, an automotive retailer with 255 locations, 344 franchises and more than 26,000 employees across 17 markets, made a commitment to direct its charitable resources toward the race to beat cancer. The company partnered nationally with Indy 500 Champion Ryan Hunter-Reay and Racing for Cancer to spread the word about the importance of early detection in prevention and treatment. We then asked employees from coast to coast to select local cancer charities to support. We anticipated an enthusiastic response but had no idea it would reap so many positive outcomes. By putting our charitable giving program in the hands of our employees, we empowered them as brand ambassadors in community relations across all of our markets.
